
Tails from the whelping box: week four
Little Paws, Big Strides 🐾
As we step into the fourth week at Tater Tails Toy Aussies, our puppies are blossoming into more independent and curious beings, showcasing remarkable growth and new abilities. Let’s dive into a week filled with exciting developments and sweet puppy antics.
Outdoor Adventures
Now that their body temperature has stabilized close to adult levels, our puppies are showing they can handle a bit more of the world. We’ve started taking them on brief outdoor excursions, ensuring they’re not out too long and that the weather is puppy-friendly. Watching them experience the backyard for the first time is a joy!

Sensory Development: Nose and Ears at Work
This week, our puppies are fine-tuning their senses. They’re beginning to use their noses with skill, tracking familiar scents like mom, who still manages to elude their sight at close range! Their vision and hearing are developing, though still imperfect, which leads to adorable moments of puppies being startled by new sounds or chasing after their shadows.
Coordination and Communication
Our little ones are also improving their eye-paw and eye-mouth coordination, attempting to bat at toys and grab items around them. As their communication skills grow, we’re hearing a wider variety of puppy sounds—whines, barks, and even the occasional howl, which certainly keeps us on our toes!
Beginning Housebreaking
With increased mobility, we’ve begun housebreaking. The puppy pen has been set up with distinct areas for playing and potty, and we’re gently guiding them to understand where it’s appropriate to relieve themselves. Sometimes they take to it right away, and sometimes it’s a messy process!

Puppy Playtime and Safety
Play is becoming more vigorous, which sometimes results in the first tiny tiffs among siblings. These are crucial moments for learning bite inhibition and social cues from both littermates and mom, who’s starting to teach them how to be gentle. This is also Auntie Truffle’s favorite week to play with the babies! We supervise closely to ensure all play is safe and educational.

Preparing for More
As we increase their interaction with the world, we’re carefully introducing them to various sounds and textures. Each new toy and challenge is chosen to stimulate their development, from plush toys that are gentle on their teeth to slightly more challenging textures that encourage problem-solving.

Caring for Supermom
Our devoted dam is feeling the strain of nurturing such active puppies, so we’re keeping her nutrition high and giving her plenty of breaks. It’s important for her well-being that she remains healthy and happy through this demanding time.
As we wrap up this week (and our first month!), we’re reminded of how quickly these precious moments fly by. We’re savoring every clumsy step and sleepy cuddle, knowing that these tiny paws will soon be embarking on even bigger adventures. Stay tuned for more updates from Tater Tails Toy Aussies, and thank you for sharing in the incredible journey of puppy growth with us!